Vietjet, Airbus ink deal for 20 A330neo aircraft at Farnborough Airshow
Vietjet has signed an agreement with Airbus for the purchase of 20 new-generation wide-body A330neo (A330-900) aircraft, totalling US$7.4 billion by the manufacturer’s list price, at the Farnborough International Airshow 2024.
This represents one of the largest deals at this year’s Airshow.
The newly-ordered aircraft will be deployed for Vietjet’s growing longhaul services as well as on routes with high demand in the region. They are slated to replace Vietjet’s current fleet of A330-300 and support the airline’s strategic plan to expand its intercontinental flight network.
With a fleet of over 105 aircraft and constantly growing passenger volume, Vietjet is actively expanding its intercontinental flight network, developing new and modern fleets in collaboration with global strategic partners such as Airbus.
Vietjet’s chairwoman Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao remarked: “The introduction of advanced, fuel-efficient A330neo aircraft into Vietjet’s fleet is part of our sustainable development strategy and ESG goals, aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050. Passengers will soon enjoy safer, more comfortable, and modern longhaul flights.”
“The award-winning Airspace cabin enables airlines to provide the best flight experience for passengers, fully adaptable to each business model. This will be the perfect platform for Vietjet Air to fly more people, farther and at lower cost, while also reducing fuel consumption and carbon emissions,” added Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, executive vice president sales, Airbus Commercial Aircraft.
Kids have a blast this summer at The Mulia Bali
This summer, The Mulia, Mulia Resort & Villas – Nusa Dua, Bali invites families with children to experience fun at the beachfront paradise.
Young guests can enjoy a variety of kid-friendly activities and experiences, from the Mulia Kidz Club to the T-Zone, water park, bouncy castle, daily games and crafts, to feasts and bonding time for the whole family.
Mulia Bali has built a joyful and entertaining haven where children can explore and create Children aged three to eight in the Mulia Kidz will be kept busy with creative crafts and interactive games, as well as have fun on the mega bouncy castle on the beach.
The newly-launched Mulia Kidz Explorer is an activity centre for children aged six to 12, which features interactive games that combine technology and physical play, a safe wall climbing facility, to name some.
The T-Zone is located next to the Splash Pool and offers teenagers an array of activities from skill-based sports like water aerobics to recreation like mahjong games and limbo contests.
Mulia Bali also offers a variety of enriching activities for children, designed to enhance their skills and physical fitness. These include swimming classes, tennis academy, yoga sessions, culinary classes, and more.
For more information, visit The Mulia Bali.
The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi names new GM
The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi has appointed Mafalda Costa Tavares as its general manager.
She joins the resort from Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Puerto Rico where she served as hotel manager.
Tavares has over 20 years of hospitality management experience, and brings extensive revenue, sales and marketing experience to her new role.
Globus family of brands creates regional marketing manager role
Globus family of brands (GFOB) has named Hallie Chua as its regional marketing manager for South-east Asia, a newly-created role.
Based out of Singapore, Chua will be responsible for all GFOB’s marketing activities across key areas throughout the region.
She brings with her more than a decade of experience in the travel sector, and has previously worked across brands including Genting Hong Kong and Nam Ho Travel.
New hotels: Moxy Solo, AC Hotel by Marriott Seoul Geumjeong and more
Moxy Solo, Indonesia
Moxy Solo makes its debut in Indonesia’s Central Java region, offering 108 guestrooms, co-working social space, pool, fitness centre, bar, restaurant and event venues.
Located 20 mins away from Adi Soemarmo International Airport in Surakata, the hotel is just a few minutes away from the iconic Pura Mangkunegaran and Keraton Surakarta, where guests immerse in Javanese culture, while the local neighborhood offers a mix of shopping options and dining.
AC Hotel by Marriott Seoul Geumjeong, South Korea
The 22-storey AC Hotel by Marriott Seoul Geumjeong features a total of 191 rooms, including 19 suites and a penthouse suite. It offers dining options, lounge, two swimming pools, and event venues.
Situated close to major industrial complexes like Pyeongchon Smart Square, Anyang IT Valley, and Gunpo High-tech Industrial Complex, the property is also just a five-minute walk from Geumjeong Station, a big transfer point for subway lines 1 and 4 in Gunpo City.
Fusion Resort & Villas Da Nang, Vietnam
With sweeping views overlooking the Non Nuoc beach, Fusion Resort & Villas Da Nang is a new resort comprising 85 private villas ranging from one to five bedrooms, in addition to a 157-key hotel tower, where 29 of these rooms come with private pools in the sky.
Wellness facilities include F&B options, spa, fitness centre, and an indoor heated pool.
The resort offers convenient access to the city of Danang, Marble Mountain, Bana Hills and the UNESCO World Heritage town of Hoi An. It is situated halfway between Hoi An and Danang, with the international airport just 15km away.
Shama Suasana Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Shama Suasana Johor Bahru welcomes guests with a blend of homely comfort and sophistication, boasting 87 suites ranging from one-bedroom to executive three-bedroom suites.
It offers facilities such as a fitness centre, outdoor swimming pool, lounge, meeting rooms, 24-hour security and concierge services. Shama Suasana Johor Bahru also implements various eco-friendly initiatives and partners with local businesses to provide guests with authentic local experiences.
The property is nearby the city’s key attractions, with popular malls such as Zenith Mall, KOMTAR JBCC and City Square Johor Bahru located in the vicinity.
Madhya Pradesh anticipates inbound tourism revival, readies to host key trade event
The central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh is expecting to grow its inbound tourism market by hosting the 39th Annual Convention of the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) from August 30 to September 2 at the Taj Lakefront in the capital city of Bhopal.
This year’s convention’s theme, Resurgent India Inbound, is expected to highlight inbound tourism’s opportunities as well as challenges.
Madhya Pradesh is currently witnessing an overwhelming demand from the domestic tourism market, however, comparatively, international tourist arrivals have failed to take off.
“The domestic tourism market has grown manifolds in Madhya Pradesh and we expect the trend to continue in the next few years. However, we are still unable to make inroads in the inbound tourism market especially since post-pandemic international tourist arrivals (have) yet to pick up. We are hoping that after hosting the IATO convention, the participating tour operators will be able to promote the destination in international markets,” said Sheo Shekhar Shukla, principal secretary, Department of Tourism and managing director Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board (MPTB) while speaking to TTG Asia on the sidelines of a news conference in New Delhi on Tuesday.
As per the department of tourism, Madhya Pradesh, 115 million domestic tourists visited the state in 2023 compared to 34 million in 2022. The statistics from India’s Ministry of Tourism show that the state welcomed 327,958 international tourists in 2019, a number that has declined sharply to less than 100,000 in the post-lockdown period.
IATO vice president Ravi Gosain, who will chair the convention, shared that about 1,000 delegates including tour operators, government officials, hoteliers and media representatives are expected to participate at the convention in Bhopal.
He said: “We are organising 10 post-convention tours covering different tourism sites including Sanchi, Udayagiri, Bhojpur, Bhimbetka, Ujjain and Satpura National Park among others. These trips will help our members to effectively promote Madhya Pradesh in international markets.”
Gosain claimed that there has been an increase of 20 to 30 per cent in international tourist arrivals in states which have hosted the IATO’s conventions in the past.
“We want to take the bull by its horns when it comes to inbound tourism. We are actively participating in international trade shows and collaborating closely with 25 Indian missions abroad to drive positive change in inbound tourism. We are developing destinations such as Gandhi Sagar, Kuno, and Chanderi as glamping sites, which we aim to promote on an international scale. Additionally, we want to promote rural and tribal homestays in global markets,” added Shukla.
Paris tops search list for Japanese travellers: Agoda
An analysis of Agoda’s accommodation search data shows that in Asia, Japan is the market where most searches for Paris originated from.
Agoda noted 43% more searches for stays in Paris in late-July and early-August, as the world’s ‘city of love’ becomes the ‘city of sports’.
Following Japan, the Asian markets that saw the most searches for Paris were South Korea, Hong Kong, Mainland China, and India respectively.
Paris is set to host the world’s biggest sporting event later this month, and that seems to have sparked interest from travellers across Asia. The increase in accommodation searches on Agoda’s platform highlights the enthusiasm and anticipation for the events, with many eager to experience the global spectacle first-hand.
Agoda’s data revealed that Paris is a highly sought-after destination from Asia, reflecting the city’s allure and perpetual popularity. The increase in searches underscores the importance of the event and the city’s readiness to not only welcome the global sporting community, but also many international fans and visitors.
Andrew Smith, senior vice president, supply at Agoda, shared: “The upcoming events in Paris are generating traveller excitement, and we were not surprised seeing this increase in interest from Asian markets.”
Maldives to step up destination marketing efforts
Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC/Visit Maldives) and the Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) have signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen collaboration and amplify destination marketing efforts.
Under the terms of this agreement, MATI will play an advisory role to MMPRC to aid in the conceptualisation and formulation of destination marketing strategies, campaigns, and tactics for the Maldives.
Moreover, both parties will cooperate in sharing tourism-related data compilations, analytical findings and insights.
“We are delighted to formalise this important collaboration with MATI, (whose) extensive industry knowledge and experience will undoubtedly be an indispensable asset in strengthening our destination marketing efforts, and their insights and support will be invaluable as we work towards achieving our strategic objectives,” commented Ibrahim Shiuree, CEO and managing director of MMPRC.
Ahmed Nazeer, secretary general of MATI, echoed this sentiment: “We have always maintained a close working relationship with MMPRC and we hope that our understanding today will serve to further solidify and enhance that relationship. Furthermore, it is our wish that this collaboration can help to bolster MMPRC’s Destination Marketing efforts, which are undoubtedly crucial for increasing our destination’s brand appeal and achieving our overall performance targets.”
Lunch in the sky with Singapore Flyer
Singapore Flyer has launched the Skyline Lunch Experience, a revolving dining experience that takes guests up to 165m high aboard one of the world’s largest observation wheels. Featuring a refined five-course Cantonese-style set menu, the Skyline Lunch Experience menu is crafted by the culinary team from Sky View Pavilion.
Starting off the culinary adventure is a dim sum trio platter, followed by double-boiled chicken soup and osmanthus-smoked cod. The highlight of the meal is the lotus leaf rice with 10-head South African abalone, before ending with lemongrass jelly adorned with assorted fruits.
Throughout the 60-minute experience across two rotations on the Singapore Flyer, guests can enjoy the attentive service of a dedicated in-capsule host.
Available from July 26 to November 25, every Friday through Monday, the Skyline Lunch Experience is priced at S$300 (US$223) for two persons in a shared capsule. With just one seating at 12.30, it accommodates only 20 guests each day.
Guests will be treated to a seamless experience with escorted priority boarding from the VIP Lounge and complimentary admission to the immersive Time Capsule, where they can take a stroll through Singapore’s rich history after the meal.
For guests seeking a more private setting, the Private Skyline Lunch Experience offers an exclusive dining experience, comfortably seating up to 10 persons for S$1,500++.
Tickets can be purchased through Singapore Flyer’s website and the WeChat Mini Programme.
For more information, visit Singapore Flyer.
Royal Caribbean International and Grammy-winning singer and songwriter Meghan Trainor rang in the celebrations on Utopia of the Seas with a summer party in Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida.
As godmother of the new vessel, Trainor officially introduced Utopia in an official naming event on board with more than 4,000 partygoers, the legendary Rev Run and DJ Ruckus at the turntables, Royal Caribbean crew members and executives, and more, just days ahead of the ship’s debut on July 19.
The All That Bass star took centre stage on the iconic open-air AquaTheater to bestow safekeeping onto the ship, its dedicated crew and the millions who will celebrate on Utopia for years to come.
“Becoming Utopia’s godmother and being here for this incredible celebration with Royal Caribbean is a dream come true,” said Trainor. “From performing on a breath-taking stage while we’re in the middle of the ocean to having my fans here to sing and dance with me and experiencing it all with my family – Utopia really is the ultimate short getaway. I’m so honoured to be part of the memories so many will make here.”